It might be time to upgrade your face mask strategy as COVID continues to spread through the country. Health experts recommended double masking in early 2021, which may be useful again.
The Centers for Disease Control found that wearing two masks is more effective than one at preventing coronaviruses transmission. The research suggests that wearing a surgical mask under a cloth mask increases protection against the virus that causes COVID-19.
The more layers we have covering our noses and mouths, the less likely we will be exposed to viral particles that can make us sick. Two masks may help create a stronger shield between you and the virus.
Here is everything you need to know about double-masking so you can prevent COVID-19.
Pick two masks with enough layers.
The director of epidemiology education at Indiana University said that the more layers you can put between yourself and the virus, the better off you will be.
N95 face masks are the gold standard for protection. If you can get a hold of an N95 and double it up with a surgical mask, you will have an efficient shield against viral particles.
It will be difficult to score for the time being because N95 masks are in limited supply. The issue is how to make your surgical face masks look better, said Onyema Ogbuagu, a Yale Medicine infectious disease doctor and principal investigator of Yale's Pfizer COVID-19 trial.
The two properties of a mask you want to look for are the ability to filter and the ability to breathe. You want masks that can limit how much we breathe in and how much we excrete.
N95 masks are not thought to be as good alternatives to the KN95 masks. Even though they aren't as rigorous as N95s, they still offer a lot of protection when sealed around your nose and mouth. Here is a list of the KN95s that have received emergency use authorization.
Due to their loose fit, surgical masks are not as effective at keeping out smaller particles than they are at protecting against large respiratory droplets. If your surgical mask is loose, try tying knots in the ear loops to keep it taut.
Make sure the surgical masks are secured tightly on your face, because they can be used as one of your face mask layers. Anilakkus is pictured via a Getty Images.
Put your air-filtration mask on first, then cover it with another.
The N95, KN95 or a well-fitting surgical mask with the greatest filters should be put on first. Make sure the mask is tightly sealed. There are gaps in the mask on the sides of your face that can be used to get air into your lungs.
It might be time to ditch the bandanas and neck gaiters and have your second layer be a cloth mask or surgical mask because data suggests certain cloth masks might not be as protective as we once thought.
The more layers your masks have, the better off you will be. Studies have shown that masks can block 50% to 70% of small droplets. Evidence shows that three layers of tightly woven fabric is the way to go for cloth masks.
The more layers you have covering your mouth and nose, the less virus you can spread. The more layers you have between you and the environment, the less viral particles are going to get into your system.
If you don't choose fabrics with no valves, you'll lose the purpose.
You want the masks to be comfortable. Certain materials can make it hard to breathe, and over-masking can make it worse.
You can pack on 10 layers, but what you do is you lose the breathability, they are uncomfortable and you have over the filtering capacity that you want. It is harder to breathe when there are certain fabrics. If you can't breathe, you won't wear it.
Duszynski advised against masks with a valve or vent. The masks have an opening for the virus to travel through, and the vent concentrates the amount of virus coming out, which can put other people at risk. Duszynski said to steer clear of masks with valves or vents.
If you're unsure, go for a mask that covers your nose and mouth.
The science is clear on this. Double-masking is a way to help protect someone else.
The story has been changed. The experts are still learning. As scientists discover more about the virus, the information in this story can change. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has the most up to date recommendations.
The article was originally on HuffPost.
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